A really busy but interesting week. It was my first day back at work after almost 2 weeks holiday (Malta then UNISON conference in Brighton) so lots of tenancy and trade union issues to try and sort out (not helped by major IT/server problems).&n…Read more…
Thirteen Housing Group workers to strike
Workers at major housing association Thirteen Housing Group, which has over 35,000 properties in the North East and Yorkshire, will be striking for over three weeks in a dispute over an ‘insulting’…Read more…
“What does the Queen’s Speech mean for housing?”
“Despite presenting a large volume of legislation, overall the policy proposals in the Queen’s Speech will do very little to address the underlying causes of our country’s housing crisis. Labour Housing Group has long argued for …Read more…
Newham Property Licensing Consultation – ends 26 January 2022
(Housing matters in Newham. Especially the Private Rental Sector. Take part in this really important consultation and let us try and keep and even extend the existing safeguards in Newham). Renewal of private rented property licensing scheme…Read more…
Bad Regulation = Bad Landlords
Hat tip “Nearly Legal” and check out this sobering report on the regulation of private sector renting by the National Audit Office.
There are 4.4 million privately rented “households” in England. Those who have bad experiences of such renting may “fi…Read more…
Denying the housing crisis in Swindon
Back in October David Renard, in his capacity as Environment spokesperson for the Local Government Association wrote that “There is … MoreRead more…
Tenants told don’t be rude about Councillors!
I must admit that this article from “Nearly Legal” made me smile. Not that abuse and harassment isn’t a serious issue in housing but having a tenancy condition saying you cannot be “derogatory” (showing a critical attitude and lack of respec…Read more…
Damp and Mould – It’s not lifestyle.
This is spot on. As a Housing officer and a Councillor, I have been arguing this point as long as I can remember. The stock response of telling all residents it is always their “fault” for damp and mould due to their “lifestyle” is simply w…Read more…
“Homeowners £326,000 richer than renters over 30 years, report finds”
Check out the indie. The problem is not so much home ownership, but the fact (in my view) that the market is rigged by the Government in favour of home ownership above other tenures.
Now prices are so high then this may change since in man…Read more…
Blog: How to start solving the housing crisis
Our communities need public services and they need the people providing those services living close by
The article Blog: How to start solving the housing crisis first appeared on the UNISON National…Read more…
Post lockdown beer & curry
Last night I met up with 3 friends who I have not seen since pre lockdown March 2020. We were celebrating David Boyles birthday with Trevor Dean and Montrose Matty. We were all UNISON reps in Tower Hamlets Housing department back in the day.
It …Read more…
‘Rock solid determination’
Striking maintenance workers at the St Mungo’s housing charity will stage a protest in Bristol on Monday (June 21) over bullying and anti-union behaviour by the management. Around a dozen members of…Read more…
Cornwall ‘pushed to the margins for far too long’
Homelessness, unemployment and soaring food bank use have all become widespread across Cornwall – but if you’re staying at the Carbis Bay Hotel in St Ives later this week, you wouldn’t know it….Read more…
St Mungo’s maintenance staff to strike
Maintenance workers at the St Mungo’s housing charity will begin indefinite strike action from Thursday 22 April in response to ‘appalling treatment’ by senior management, Unite said today (Thursday…Read more…
UK average house prices / Average yearly salary
While I cannot find the exact ONS link on this “Politics for All” tweet it seems about right. The complete and utter unaffordability of housing in the UK is just a national disgrace and a betrayal of our young people.
How on earth can they pay around…Read more…
New policies pose a huge risk to the future of social housing
Right to Buy reforms could divert funding away from new council housing, says UNISON
The article New policies pose a huge risk to the future of social housing first appeared on the UNISON National…Read more…
Unite win for members
Hestia Housing and Support workers have succeeded in their campaign to force their employer to pay the London Living Wage, Unite said today (Thursday 4 March).
The post Unite win for members…Read more…
Home insulation must be priority to tackle climate change
The government must strengthen the Green Homes Grant and bring it under public control, or else risk failing to meet vital and legally-binding carbon targets to tackle the climate emergency, Unite…Read more…
The Return of Squalor: An anthology from the first ten years of Red Brick Blog
I had missed this powerful housing anthology. Certainly, going on early morning inspections of rogue Newham Private Sector landlords brought home this return of squalor.
Hat tip https://municipaldreams.wordpress.com/2021/02/23/book-re…Read more…
‘Disgusting way to treat staff’
Strikes over attempts to slash staff salaries by up to £6,000 at lettings software provider Goodlord will disrupt services for Winkworth and other London estate agents, Unite warned today (Wednesday…Read more…